Two dairy industry lobbying groups have written to the
United States Trade Representative to complain that Canada and Japan are not
willing to make enough concessions during the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade
negotiations.
The National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S.
Dairy Export Council said Japan and Canada were dragging their feet and U.S.
negotiators must insist on “meaningful” dairy market access.
Reuters News agency says the two lobby groups could
persuade U.S. politicians to vote against approval of a trade deal that could
emerges from the negotiations.
The two groups also complained about the structure of
the New Zealand dairy industry where dairy farmers own Fonterra, the dominant
processing company and exporter.
New Zealand is the world’s most aggressive exporter of
dairy products.
Japan said it’s not willing to entirely give up tariffs
protecting its rice, dairy, wheat, sugar, beef and pork producers.
Reuters said the Canadian dairy industry is waiting to see
how U.S. negotiations with Japan turn out, indicating that it would seek equal
protection.
U.S. Trade Representative Darci Vetter told the Senate
Finance Committee that the U.S. remains insistent on eliminating tariffs on all
goods, including agriculture.
